Internet Society (ISOC) has prepared an infographic for the World Economic Forum in Davos. The document is aimed at leaders, businesses, civil society organizations and other Forum attendees, and shows how the Internet shapes the world and what can be done to further evolve the global network for the tomorrow's society.
ISOC assumes four major starting points:
Building on these principles, the Internet Society presents seven types of recommendations for the leaders in Davos.
Enhancing cybersecurity
A secure and resilient environment is the foundation of economic and social gain, while capabilities and resilience can be developed. However, ISOC warns that misunderstanding of the dynamic nature of the challenge could lead to ineffective efforts, and centralized programs may increase risk. Paying too much attention to security can lead to reduced civil liberties.
ISOC recommends to review and sign the Forum’s ‘Partnering for Cyber Resilience Principles & Guidelines’. General recommendations include fostering a rich ecosystem network of cyber capabilities and organizations, investing in centres to develop leading practices in specialist capabilities, industry-specific dialogue and issue-specific networks, as well as building institutional capabilities, including full criminal justice chain training, adaptation of criminal law, judicial review and procedural protections.
Building multi-stakeholder capabilities
ISOC notes that multi-stakeholder decision making can strengthen sense of civic participation, as well as help tap into broader base of expertise. Including civil society, companies and governments together in decision making may contribute to building an open and balanced Internet eco-system that will drive economic growth, employment and innovation. However, ignoring or undermining multi-stakeholder groups threatens economic, social and internet innovation and the benefits for society. ISOC advises strongly against closed door policies that can erode trust and innovation. Recommendations include keeping the Internet open and interoperable globally, fostering multi-stakeholder processes and organizations and using these processes to guide standards, policies and infrastructure investment decisions at local, national and global levels.
Fostering the "Internet of Things"
Connected devices open up unprecedented opportunities for new business models and social good. The Internet Society's example is a connected car that can contribute to a large number of industries, such as safety, transport, environmental, insurance, health and others. ISOC advises to tread softly as poor understanding and practices around collection, storage, use and sharing of data could lead to erosion of trust and missed opportunity. Anything connected must be secured, ISOC says. The Internet Society recommends the leaders to be prepared – by developing scenarios of impact of Internet of Things on societies, as well as using multi-stakeholder Institutions to analyze issues and implications.
Data: big, open and personal
The use of 'big data' brings new insights – and better decision making. Improved response and agility can lead to new solutions, while crowdsourcing can win better engagement with citizens. However, ISOC warns that abusing personal data – by governments or companies – may result in large scale loss of trust. Using multi-stakeholder Institutions to analyze issues and implications (e.g. Big Data), and develop user consent models that are contextually-driven can help mitigate implications in this case.
Promoting Internet access
The Internet drives economic growth, and helps to form an informed, engaged and equitable society. ISOC advises to bear in mind that some social groups might be excluded without protection or active outreach. Filtering or monitoring Internet access can also limit individuals’ political choices, rights and engagement. The Internet Society urges leaders to develop policies that protect and promote equitable access to the open Internet.
Engaging civil society
Properly enshrined rights provide basis for society, and established international human rights provide a basis for good policy making. However, key rights have to be re-examined or redefined, and failure to do so may result in uninformed declarations and uninformed policymaking, ISOC experts say. The organization sees adapting established civic protections to digitally ubiquitous environment as a key to success in engaging civil society. Using multi-stakeholder frameworks for this purpose can also contribute to community engagement.
Building venture countries
Proactive planning could work well for encouraging an entrepreneurial, educated Internet knowledgeable workforce. Some incentives can attract skilled workers, driving competitiveness and employment. ISOC advises to look closely for the signs of the 'two-tiered society' and warns that ‘race to the bottom’ may result if the country is not balancing its incentives. Developing targeted, adaptive and integrated policy basket, including immigration, investment, tax, infrastructure and institutional capabilities, will increase the venture country's chance of success.
"The Internet is the largest and most rapidly evolving complex adaptive system in human history. It connects us all. It helps to feed the human soul and our desire for knowledge, learning and exchange," ISOC notes. "We can observe it, we can harness it, and we can envision some of what it can bring, but we cannot predict the tremendous wave of global innovation it continues to unleash. All of us are architects of its destiny."
